Angels still know how to beat up on NL teams

The Angels' Albert Pujols, center, greets Howie Kendrick, left, as the two score on a double hit by teammate Erick Aybar during the ninth inning against the San Diego Padres on Friday. The Angels won, 7-2.GREGORY BULL, AP

SAN DIEGO – Every season, baseball offers the Angels a 5-Hour Energy Drink in the middle of their schedule – interleague play.

The Angels have already won six of nine games against the worst team in the American League, the Minnesota Twins. Friday night, they started a three-game series against the worst the National League has to offer by handing the San Diego Padres a 7-2 defeat.

The Angels are now 133-84 in interleague play since 2000, 63-28 since 2007 – both the best interleague marks in the majors. They have won their past nine series against National League teams, stretching back to 2010.

“Obviously, we always play well in interleague,” Angels right-hander Jered Weaver acknowledged after holding the Padres to three hits in seven innings. “I don't know why that is. Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe Sosh (Manager Mike Scioscia) being a National League player all those years, maybe he knows what to do in these National League settings.

“Hopefully, we can get a boost from interleague and keep it going.”

Weaver found an accelerant of his own Friday – running in front of Mike Trout.

After walking in his first time up, Weaver singled up the middle to lead off the fifth inning. Trout came up behind him and lined a ball that rattled around in the left-field corner.

“You get these long legs going, they can move pretty good,” Weaver said. “It felt like Little League a little bit, getting to run around out there some.”

Weaver scored from first on Trout’s triple (covering the three-quarter lap of the diamond in 11.8 seconds according to the TV broadcast’s timing of it), never looking back to see how quickly Trout was gaining on him.

“It's kind of like a dog chasing you or running away from the cops - you find that extra gear,” Weaver joked.

Trout’s arrival has given the Angels’ offense a gear that was missing – first. The RBI triple in the fifth inning was one of three hits in the game for the 20-year-old.

Trout went hitless in his first seven at-bats after being promoted from Triple-A Salt Lake three weeks ago. Since then, he is batting .377 (23 for 61) in 15 games with six multi-hit games in his past nine.

“I was just trying to keep the same thing going I had in Salt Lake,” said Trout who was tearing up the PCL with a .403 average, 10 extra-base hits and 21 runs scored in 20 games.

When he arrived, Angels’ leadoff hitters had hit a collective .195 with a .250 on-base percentage during the first 20 games of the season. The Angels are 10-7 when he starts at leadoff, and 8-15 with anyone else there.

“We're seeing him get comfortable in the big leagues,” Scioscia said of Trout. “You're seeing his skills. He had good at-bats again tonight, stole a base, had the triple. When there was a bobble (on his sixth-inning single), he took the extra base.

The Angels' Albert Pujols, center, greets Howie Kendrick, left, as the two score on a double hit by teammate Erick Aybar during the ninth inning against the San Diego Padres on Friday. The Angels won, 7-2. GREGORY BULL, AP
The Angels' Mark Trumbo hits an RBI double against the San Diego Padres during the fifth inning. GREGORY BULL, AP
The Angels' Jered Weaver pitches during the first inning against the San Diego Padres. DENIS POROY, GETTY IMAGES
The Angels' Jered Weaver is congratulated by Albert Pujols after scoring during the fifth inning. DENIS POROY, GETTY IMAGES
The Angels' Mike Trout hits an RBI triple during the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. DENIS POROY, GETTY IMAGES
The Angels' Jered Weaver sprints toward the plate during the fifth inning against the San Diego Padres. DENIS POROY, GETTY IMAGES
Angels shortstop Erick Aybar, left, bobbles and drops the ball as the San Diego Padres' Cameron Maybin safely steals second base during the fourth inning. GREGORY BULL, AP
The Angels' Albert Pujols reacts as he scores off a double hit by teammate Erick Aybar during the ninth inning against the San Diego Padres. GREGORY BULL, AP
Angels shortstop Erick Aybar loses the ball as Cameron Maybin of the San Diego Padres steals second base during the fourth inning. DENIS POROY, GETTY IMAGES
Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera, right, gets ready to throw to first for a double play as the Angels' Erick Aybar (2) slides in during the second inning. GREGORY BULL, AP
The Angels' Albert Pujols jokes with former San Diego Padres player Dave Winfield during batting practice before a baseball game at Petco Park on Friday. DENIS POROY, GETTY IMAGES

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